Signaling



April 15, 1930.

G. LEE

SIGNALING 1925 3 sheets-sheet 1 Original Filed April l0 m w m In eltor n George E. Lee

G. E. LEE

SIGNALING April 15, 1930.

I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed April 10 April 15, 1930. G. E LEE 1,754,365

SGNALING Original Filed April 10, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented pr. 15, 1930 UNITED s'ra'rlssy PATENT oli-FICE GEORGE E. LEE, OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO HADLEYI. FREEMAN,

. OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO sIGirALING Application led April 10, 1925, Serial No. 22,072. Renewed March 6, 1928.

My invention relates to operation signaling mechanism for automobiles, particularly to mechanism for indicating that the driver intends to turn to the right or to the left, and the principal obj ect of my invention is to provide satisfactory mechanism of this type. v[n the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part thereof I have shown, for

purposes of illustration, mechanism effective vto carry out my invention. In these drawin s:

' igures l, 2, and 3 are respectively a plan view, an end elevation, and a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, of a switch unit peculiarly adapted to carry out my invention,

Figures 4, 5, and 6 are respectively a plan view, an end elevation, and a side elevation, of a second switch unit also peculiarly adapted to carry out my invention,

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a method of .use-

of either of these switch units to carry out my invention, while Figure 9 indicates a method in which the apparatus may be inter-connected.

The switch .unit disclosed in Figures 1 through 3 comprises a base 21 adapted to besecured by means of bolts 22 to the automobile clutch pedal 23 in lieu of the usual pedal facing, formed on its upper face 24 to afford the satisfactory tread afforded by the usual pedal facing, and provided with an extension 25 closed at its top and sidesto provide a chamber 26 adapted to Ibe completely closed by means of a switch base 27 secured to the extension 25 by means of a plurality of screws 28. Mounted upon this switch base 27 is a block of insulating material 29 carrying three clip terminals, 30, 31, and 32, adapted to be engaged by the two terminals 33 andv 34 of a an upwardly extending bar v80 and is held in central position, with the bridging conductor terminals`33 and 34 out of contact with the clip terminals 30, 3l, and 32, by means of a centering -device comprising a rod 39 provided with a projection 40 extending through an aperture 41 in the right side of the extension 25 into position to engage the right hand bar 8O when the slide 37 is in intermediate position, provided'just inside the extension 25 with an enlarged portion 42, and extending, adjacent the left edge of the chamber 26, into an elongated socket 43 in a pin 44 of Asubstantially the same diameter as the enlargement 42 and provided with a projection 45 of reduced diameter extending through `the aperture 46 in the left side of the extension 25 into position to abut the left-hand bar 80 when the slide 37 is in intermediate position. Encircling the rod 39 between the enlargement 42 and the pin 44 is a compression spring 47 acting continually to separate the enlargement 42 and the pin 44.

It will be obvious'from the above description that lateral movement of either bar 80 will cause a corresponding reciprocation of the slide 37, the insulating block 36, and the bridging conductor 35, to cause the bridging conductor 35 to connect the battery terminal 3l to the left hand terminal 30 or lthe right hand terminal 32 depending on whether the movement of the bars v80 and slide 37 is to the left or to the right. It will also be apparent that reciprocation oi the slide 37 and bars 8O in either direction will force inwardly either the projection 4() of the rod 39 or the projection 45 of the pin 44, and that in either case this will be accompanied by a corresponding approachment of the enlargement 42 and pin 44 against the action of the spring 47 which thereupon becomes eii'ective to return the parts to neutral mid-position as soon as the displacing force has been removed from the bars 80.

The switch unit disclosed in Figures 4 through 6 comprises a base 48 adapted tobe secured by means of bolts 22 to the automobile clutch pedal 23 in lieu of the usual pedal facing, formed on its upper lface 49- to a'ord the satisfactory tread afforded by the usual pedal facin and provided with an extension 50 close at its top and sides to provide a chamber 51 adapted to be completely closed by means of a switch base 27 secured to the extension 50 by means of a plurality of screws 28. Mounted upon this switch base 27 is a block of insulating material 29 carryin three clip terminals, 30, 31, and 32, adapte to be engaged by the two terminals 33 and 34 of a bridging conductor 35 secured in position upon a block'of insulating material 52 which '56 provided at their free ends with upwardly extendirg bars 57 and enga ed intermediate their en s by lugs 58 rising rom the ends of the slide 53. The arms 56 and the slide 53 are held in central position, with the bridging conductor terminals 33 and 34 out of contact with the terminals 30, 31, and 32, by means of a centering device comprising a rod 39 provided with a projection 40 extending through ,an aperture 59 in the right side of the extension into position to engage the right hand arm 56 when the slide 53 is in intermediate position, provided just inside the extension 50 with an enlarged portion 42,'and extending adjacent the left edge o the chamber 51 into an elongated socket 43 in a pin 44 of substantially the same diameter as the enlargement '42 and provided with a projection-45 of reduced diameter extending through the aperture 60 in the left side of the extension 50 into position to abut the left hand arm 56 when the slide 53 is in intermediate position. En-

circling the rod 39 between the enlargement 42 and the pin 44 is a compression spring 47 acting continually to separate the enlargement 42 and the pin 44.

It will be obvious from the above description that lateral movement of either bar 57 will cause a corresponding reciprocation of the slide 53, the insulating block 36 and the bridging conductor 35, to cause the bridging conductor to connect the battery terminal 31 to the left hand terminal 30 or the right hand terminal 32 depending on whether the movement of the bar 57 and slide 53 is to the left or to the right. It will also be apparent that reciprocation of the slide 53 and bars 57 in either direction will force inwardly either the projection 40 of the rod 39 or the projection 45 of the pin 44, and that in either case this will be accompanied by a corresponding approachment of the enlargement 42 and pin 44 against the action of the spring 47 which thereupon becomes eective to return the clutch pedal operating foot in position to be engaged by the foot by pivotal movement of he foot about ithe point of engagement of the ball of the foot with the clutch pe'dal, that the foot may be so pivoted, and the switch unit actuated, without in'any way interfering with the normal clutch operating funcl tion of the foot, and that by such actuation of `the bars 8O or 57 the battery terminal 31 will be connected with either the left hand terminal 30 or the right hand terminal 32 depending upon the direction of actuation of the bars 80 or. 57 and slide 37 or 53.

It will be understood, of course, that either of these herein disclosed switch units may be utilized to carry out the purposes of my invention, and in any one of'several ways, but I prefer to employ the indicating mechanism shown diagrammatically in Figure 9 and comprising right turn and left turn tell-tale lamps 61 and 62 located in plain view ofthe operator, as on the dashboard, right turn and left turn front indicating lamps 63 and 64 located on the forward portion of the automobile, as on the left front fender, and right turn and left turnA rear indicatin lamps 65 and 66 located on a rear portion o the automobile, as on the o rear left fender. In Fi ure 9 I have shown the three right turn indicatin lamps 61, 63, and 65, connected, by means o conductors 67, 68, 69, and 70, in series between the right hand switch terminal 32' and the grounding conductor 7l, the' three left turn indicating lamps 62, 64, and 66, similarly connected, by means of conductors 72, 73,74, and 75, in series between the left hand switch terminal 30 and the grounding conductor 71, the center or battery switch terminal 31 connected by means of a conductor 76 to one terminal of the battery 77, and the other terminal of the battery 77 connected to ground by means of a conductor 78. p

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the embodiment of m invention herein shown and described provides operative signaling mechanism for automobiles wherein the left and right turn signals are operated by a semi-automatic movement of the driver preparatory to turning, by a movement of the clutch pedal operating foot of the driver which, regardless of the then position of thc clutch pedal, interferes in no wise and to no extent with the full and free use 0f the foot 'for its normal functions in the operation of the automobile. In addition, it will also be obvious to those skilled in the art-that the automobiles of the types having a foot operated control pedal, comprising: signaling means for indicating turns; and means to eiiect operation of said signaling means carried by said pedal and having its operating part disposed rearwardly of said pedal and operable, by the rear of a foot of the driver While said foot is in an operating position on said pedal, by pressure exerted by said rear of said foot and definitely out of line with the direction of the pressure by which said foot operates said pedal.

2. Operation indicating mechanism, for automobiles of the types having a foot operated control pedal, comprising: signaling means for indicating turns; and means to effect operationof said signaling means carried by said pedal and having its operating part disposed rearwardly of said pedal and operable by lateral pressure exerted by the rear of a footof the driver while said foot is in an operating position on said pedal.

3. Operation indicating mechanism,- for automobiles of the types having a foot operated control pedal, comprising: signaling means for indicating turns; and means to effect operation of said signaling means carried by said pedal and having its operating part disposed rearwardly of said pedal and operable by the rear of a foot of the driver by pivotal movement of said foot about the ball of said foot while said ball is in an operating position on said pedal.

4:. Operation indicating mechanism, for automobiles of the types having a foot operated control pedal, comprising: signaling' means for indicating turns; and means to effeet operation of said signaling means carried by said pedal and having its operating part disposed rearwardly of said pedal and operable by lateral pressure exerted by the rear of a foot of the driver by pivotal movement of said foot about the ball of said foot while said ball is in an operating position on said pedal.

5. 'lo be positioned, on an automobile having al foot operated control pedal and carrying automobile turn signaling mechanism, and on said pedal with its operating part disposed rearwardly from said pedal; means for eiiecting operation of said mechanism comprising said operating part and operable, when said means is so positioned in the automobile, b the rear of a foot of the driver when sai foot is in an operating position on said pedal, by pressure exerted by said rear of said foot and definitely out of line with the direction of the pressure by which said foot operates said pedal.

6; To be positioned, on an automobile having a foot operated control ing automobile turn signa ng mechanism, and on said pedal with its operating part disposed rearwardly from said pedal; means for eifecting operating of said mechanism comprising said operating part and operable, when sa1d means 1s s'o positioned 1n theautomobile, by the rear of a f oot of the'. driver by lateral pressure by said foot when said foot is in an operating position on said pedal.

7 To be positioned, on an automobile having a foot operated control pedal and carrying automobile turn signa ing mechanism, and on said pedal with its operating part disposed rearwardly from said pedal; means for effecting operation of said mechanism comprising said operating part and operable, when said means is so positioned in the automobile, by the rear of a footof the driver by pivotal movement of said foot-about the ball of said foot when said ball is in an operating position on said pedal.

8. To be positioned, on an automobile havin'g a foot operated control pedal and carrying automobile turn signaling mechanism, and on said pedal with its operating part disposed rearwardly from said pedal; means for effecting operation of said mechanism comprising said operating part and operable, when said means is so positioned in the automobile, by lateral pressure exerted by the rear of a foot of the driver by pivotal movement of said foot about the ball of said foot when said ball is in an operating position on said pedal.

9. A switch unit, for actuation by a foot of the driver to operate automobile turn signaling means, comprising: a base arranged to be secured to an operating pedal of the automobile; circuit changing means carried by said base; and operating means also carried by said base and comprising a pair of elongated laterally movable bars arranged, when said base is secured in position in the automobile, to extend rearwardly of said pedal on the two sides of the rear of a foot of the driver, when said foot is in an operating position on said pedal, in position to be operated by said rear of said foot while said foot is in such position in any operating position of said pedal, one by lateral movement o said ,rear of said foot in one direction and thc other by lateral movement by said rear of said foot in the other direction.

. 10. Operation indicating mechanism, for automobiles of the types having a foot operated control pedal, comprising: signaling means for indicating turns; and means to 1pedal and carryeffect operation of said signaling means `car- I y out of ine with the direction of the pressure by which said foot operates said pedal.

11. To be positioned, on an automobile having a foot operated control pedal and carrying automobile turn signaling mechanism, and on said pedal with its operating part disposed rearwardly from said pedal means for eiecti ing operation of said mechanism comprising said operating part and operable, when said means is so positioned, in the automobile, by the rear of a foot of the driver by pivotal movement of said foot about the ball of Y said foot while said ball is in an operating position on said pedal, by pressure exerted by said rear of said foot and definitely out of line with the direction of the pressure by which said foot operates said pedal.

12. A switch unit, for actuation by a foot Aof the driver to .operate automobile turn-sigposition to be operated by said rear of `said.

foot While said foot is in such osition in any operating position of said pe al, one by lat-A eral movement of said rear of said foot 1n one direction and the other by lateral `movement by said rear of said foot inthe other direction.

13. A switch unit, for actuation by a foot of the driver to operate automobile turn signaling means, comprising a base arran ed to be secured to the automobile: circuit c anging means carried b said base; and operating means also carried by said base and comprising a pair of elongated laterally movable bars arranged, when said basevis secured in position in the automobile, to extend rearwardly of an operating pedal of the automobile on the two sides of the rear of a foot of the driver, when said foot is inv an ,operating po- 14. A switchunit, for actuation by al foot of the driver tooperate automobile turn signali ing means, comprising: a base arranged to be secured to an operating pedal ofthe automobile: circuit changing means carried by said base; and o eratin means also carrled by said base an l comprising a pair of elongated laterally movable bars arranged, when said base is secured in position in the automobile. to extend rearwardly of said pedal on the two sides of the rear of a foot of the driver, when said foot is in an operating position on said pedal, in position to be operated by said rear of said foot by pivotal movement of said foot about the ball of said foot while said ball is in Isuch -position in any operating position of signature. y

GEORGE y E. LEE.

hereunto afiix my 

